Dirty Dusting at the Grove Theatre Review
Dirty Dusting
Grove Theatre, Dunstable
12 March 2014
Reviewed by Sue Knight
Dirty Dusting is set in an office where three elderly office cleaners, Olive, Elsie and Gladys find that after many loyal years of service they are to lose their jobs. Their boss Dave takes great pleasure in telling them that the Company is looking to employ younger people and that they should not re-apply for their jobs as anyone over the age of 65 will not be considered.
The three women, Olive who had had very little intimacy with her husband but a long term affair with a Scout leader, her being a guide leader for over 30 years. Elsie who had been married, now single after her husband went off following a string of affairs and little Gladys who had and was still married to her husband go about setting up a chat line. There is a song during the play which you cannot help but laugh at Gladys’s dance moves. Seeing an elderly lady trying to dance provocatively in a bodice, over her cleaner’s uniform, I might add, is hilarious and is nothing more than a great end to the first act. The play shows the women using their experiences in life to get them through making some extra money over the course of a weekend hoping their nasty boss would not find out.
The underlying story is of discrimination within the workplace against age. The three woman go on to prove that if you set your mind to something then it can be achieved. Age should not be the issue but the ability of the worker.
If you fancy a girly night out, enjoy a play with a limited cast and don’t mind plenty of sexual innuendos then this is the play for you. Go and see this uplifting comedy.
Rating: 3/5
Dirty Dusting is currently on its UK Tour, more details can be found on their Facebook page here.
For more shows at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk.
